LEICESTERSHIRE, ENGLAND: Angel Lynn, 22, endured a life-altering brain injury three years ago, rendering her paralyzed and unable to communicate. The tragic incident occurred when she fell out of a moving van at a speed of 60mph during a kidnapping by her boyfriend, Chay Bowskill. Angel's mother, Nikki, vividly remembers the harrowing moment when doctors expressed doubts about her daughter's survival.
Since that fateful day in September 2020, Angel has been confined to a wheelchair, undergoing rigorous daily physiotherapy to regain strength in her impaired limbs and reacquire fundamental skills. The journey to recovery has been marked by countless medications, procedures, and treatment regimens, so numerous that Nikki has lost track. Angel has endured multiple hospitalizations, battling not only her initial injuries but also contracting COVID-19 and pneumonia. She has faced additional health complications, including a collapsed lung and partial loss of vision in one eye. At times, Angel's condition has been so critical that a priest has administered the last rites on three separate occasions. Despite these overwhelming challenges, Angel tenaciously fights on, displaying remarkable resilience and determination.
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Recently, Nikki, 48, and her husband Paddy, 53, recounted Angel's extraordinary journey in a Channel 4 documentary. "Angel has been here for a year," says Nikki, "Before, she could barely move. Couldn’t communicate. Or anything, really. Now she can write on her tablet. Use the remote control to watch TV. Wipe her own mouth. She can’t talk yet, maybe one day, but she can still express her sense of humor."
In a remarkable display of strength and determination, Angel has achieved significant milestones in her recovery journey. With the support of physiotherapists, she has recently accomplished the remarkable feat of standing and taking a few steps. "You could see it in her eyes, how hard she was trying," Nikki said. "She was shaking all over and her left leg kept getting stuck, but she was focusing with every bit of strength she has. Anything Angel sets her mind to, she does. She tries so hard and she doesn't give up. And she did it. I could not be prouder."
Angel has also learned to stand in a swimming pool, make herself a cup of tea, and even sit in the front seat of a car, which was previously challenging as her parents had to lift her wheelchair into a specially-adapted van. Additionally, she has learned to communicate through writing with the assistance of an iPad, express herself through gestures such as waving and giving a thumbs up or down to make decisions, and even sign "I love you" to her parents. Medical professionals involved in her care consider her progress to be extraordinary, a testament to her resilience and unwavering determination in the face of immense challenges.
'My baby needs her mum'
"She moved into a new rehab centre a year ago and they're working wonders — that's where she's making all this progress," Nikki explains. "She went to her friend's 21st birthday the other day, and we've taken her to the pub. She's learning to swallow on her own [Angel has a feeding tube fitted into her stomach], which meant she could have a few sips of juice." "Honestly, I've learned to block it [the emotion] out," Nikki said. "I've had times when I've thought I can't take any more. But then I think about Angel, and how she's a baby again because of what happened. My baby needs her mum, so I will be there for her."
Heartbreaking videos and photos shared on their social media platforms captured the memories of their daughter, showcasing her previous vibrant personality with her sunny blonde hair, playful sense of humor, and a smile that could light up a room. "I miss that smile and the sound of her laughter," says Nikki. "Angel was always laughing. She was such a happy girl. She had a beautiful laugh."
Nikki holds onto the hope of hearing her daughter's laughter again one day, but she acknowledges that Angel had stopped laughing months before the tragic accident. It was only after the incident that Nikki and other family members came to realize the extent of the emotional and physical abuse Angel had been enduring at the hands of her then-boyfriend, Chay Bowskill, who is now 23. He had been exerting control over her, dictating her actions, restricting her movements, and influencing her choices in clothing.
"I didn't take a liking to (Bowskill) — we didn't click," says Nikki. "I had no idea who he was or where he was from. I could see what he saw in her, but had absolutely no idea why she liked him. I thought he was a bit of a rogue and it would all fizzle out. I had no idea how bad he really was." Angel had aspirations of becoming a forensic scientist and had expressed interest in taking a training course with the police. However, Bowskill prevented her from pursuing this path, further limiting her opportunities and stifling her ambitions. "It meant being away from home, so it wasn't an option once she was with him."
